Table Game with Surface and Air Components

ABSTRACT

This invention is directed toward a table game with, optionally, both an “air game” and a “ground game”. This invention relates to the general field of table games, and more specifically to a large table game, similar in size to a ping pong or pool table, playable by one or more people. The theory behind the invention is to combine an “air game” (such as ping pong) with a “ground game” (such as pool) and do so in a flexible format that allows a number of people to participate in the game. The game can be played in an active fashion, similar to Ping-Pong, or as more of a set-up and strategy game, as in pool. A unique paddle-shaped hitting device with a hockey-stick like projection on its bottom portion allows for a player to play both the air game and the ground game using the same hitting device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/534,833 filed on Sep. 14, 2011, the entirety of whichis hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was not federally sponsored.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the general field of table games, and morespecifically to a large table game, similar in size to a Ping-Pong orpool table, playable by one or more people. The theory behind theinvention is to combine an “air game” (such as Ping-Pong) with a “groundgame” (such as pool) and do so in a flexible format that allows a numberof people to participate in the game. The game can be played in anactive fashion, similar to Ping-Pong, or as more of a set-up andstrategy game, as in pool. A unique paddle-shaped hitting device with ahockey-stick like projection on its bottom portion allows for a playerto play both the air game and the ground game using the same hittingdevice. It is also anticipated that the game could be played without apaddle; only with the use of a player's hands.

History of the invention's industry. Games have been an integral part ofhuman entertainment for centuries. While games appear to have begunalong the lines of card games and board games, larger table games beganto appear in recorded history during the 1600's when billiards wasdescribed in printed literature.

As table games evolved, they split into two general types of games.First, there were the strategy games, in which players planned theirmoves, and then tried to execute an action. Pool is a good example ofthis type of strategy game. There is no rush for pool players; they haveplenty of time to line up and take their shots. The second directiongames took were fast-paced games where a player's quick reactions wereoften what decided the outcome of a game. Ping-Pong, foosball and airhockey are all examples of fast-paced, reactionary games.

While each of these games is desirable to a certain group of users,there is little carryover from one group to the other. For example, theowner of a pool table is unable to effectively “speed up” the game ofpool, such that the players get good exercise, unless he or she iswilling to risk ruining the felt surface due to a hurried and inaccurate“strike”. At the same time, it would be very difficult to slow down pingpong or air hockey such that the players had adequate time tointelligently plan their next moves.

Thus, the lack of cross over between the two genres of table games hascreated a problematic situation where someone who wants both a strategicand a reactionary table game has to buy one of each. The generally largesize of such table games makes the purchase of two table gamesundesirable as rare is the house that is large enough to accommodate twotable games. There are folding table games, such as ping pong, butgenerally these folding versions tend to warp and are inferior to afixed table game.

Thus there has existed a long-felt need for a table game that can haveboth strategic and reactionary components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention provides just such a solution by having a tablegame, similar in size to a Ping-Pong or pool table, with both an “airgame” and a “ground game”. Optionally, either the air game or the groundgame can be removed such that either version can be playedindependently. The table game is constructed both in terms of physicalcharacteristics and rules to create a flexible format that allows anumber of people to participate in the game, and also provides twopossible game formats: the game can be played in an active fashion,similar to ping pong, or as more of a set-up and strategy game, as inpool. Thus, the flexibility of the game allows for it to serve as bothentertainment and, if desired, physical exercise, for a number ofpeople. While the game can be played with only hands, one embodiment ofthe invention calls for a unique paddle-shaped hitting device with ahockey-stick like projection on its bottom portion allows for a playerto play both the air game and the ground game using the same hittingdevice.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a game with both anair game and a ground game.

It is another object of the invention to provide a game that can beplayed by between one and eight players.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game that can beplayed with hands or a paddle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game that allows for awide range of handicapping options.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a game that can beplayed as a slow-paced strategy game, or as a fast-paced reactionarygame.

A further object of the game allows for skilled players to become“position specialists” where they concentrate on offense or defense, orare brought in to perform a particular offensive or defensive functionat which they are unusually skilled.

Another object of the game is to allow handicapping in a variety ofcreative manners, to allow skilled and unskilled players to compete witheach other. Among the means of affecting handicapping are: increasing ordecreasing the size of the shooting channels, traps, and goal holes,increasing or decreasing the size of the openings in the air game, andallowing for increased points for a player who strikes the ball and/ordefends from a greater distance behind the table.

A particular embodiment of the current invention is a table gamecomprising a ground game board, an air game board, four adjustable legs,optionally, a paddle or, optionally, just the hands of a player, anadjustable return panel, and a ball, where the ground game boardcomprises a plurality of goal holes and a plurality of traps, where eachgoal hole and trap comprises an opening, where at least one of theplurality of goal holes further comprises an insert, where the insert ofthe goal hole comprises a hole that is smaller than the size of the goalhole, whereby the insert of the goal hole may be inserted into the goalhole to decrease the size of the opening of the goal hole thereby makingit more difficult to pass the ball through the goal hole, where at leastone of the plurality of traps further comprises an insert, where theinsert of the trap comprises a hole that is smaller than the size of thetrap, whereby the insert of the trap may be inserted into the trap todecrease the size of the opening of the trap thereby making it moredifficult to pass the ball through the trap, where some traps located tothe sides of the table can be used to widen the shooting channels by theaddition of an insert, where the air game board comprises two goalposts, a horizontal cross-bar, and a vertical cross-bar, where the airgame board is attached to the ground game board, and

where the ground game board is located in a horizontal orientation,where the air game board is located in a vertical orientation, where theball may be directed through the one or more goal holes or traps, wherethere are one or more end traps into which the ball can roll if it doesnot reach a goal, where the return board comprises two flat surfaces,where the two flat surfaces of the return board are joined at a pivotpoint, where the angle of each of the two flat surfaces of the returnboard is adjustable such that each flat surface of the return board isparallel to the other or angled, whereby an angled flat surface of thereturn board causes a ball placed thereon to move towards one side ofthe table game, where the paddle comprises a handle portion and may beused to strike the ball.

Another embodiment of the current invention is a table game comprising aground game board, an air game board, four legs, an adjustable returnpanel, and a ball, where the ground game board comprises a plurality ofgoal holes and a plurality of traps, where each goal hole and trapcomprises an opening, where the air game board comprises two goal postsand a horizontal cross bar, where the air game board is attached to theground game board, and where the ground game board is located in ahorizontal orientation, where the air game board is located in avertical orientation, where the ball may be directed through the one ormore goal holes or traps, where the return board comprises two flatsurfaces, where the two flat surfaces of the return board are joined ata pivot point, where the angle of each of the two flat surfaces of thereturn board is adjustable such that each flat surface of the returnboard is parallel to the other or angled, whereby an angled flat surfaceof the return board causes a ball placed thereon to move towards oneside of the table game.

An additional embodiment of the current invention is a method of playinga table game comprising the steps of obtaining a game table, where thegame table comprises a ground game board, an air game board, four legs,an adjustable return panel, and a ball, where the ground game boardcomprises a plurality of goal holes and a plurality of traps, where eachgoal hole and trap comprises an opening, where the air game boardcomprises two goal posts and a horizontal cross bar, where the air gameboard is attached to the ground game board, and where the ground gameboard is located in a horizontal orientation, where the air game boardis located in a vertical orientation, where the ball may be directedthrough the one or more goal holes or traps, where the return boardcomprises two flat surfaces, where the two flat surfaces of the returnboard are joined at a pivot point, where the angle of each of the twoflat surfaces of the return board is adjustable such that each flatsurface of the return board is parallel to the other or angled, wherebyan angled flat surface of the return board causes a ball placed thereonto move towards one side of the table game, and shooting the ball intoone of the plurality of goal holes.

In yet another embodiment, the current invention is a method of playinga table game comprising the steps of obtaining a game table, where thegame table comprises a ground game board, an air game board, four legs,an adjustable return panel, a ball, and a second ball, where the groundgame board comprises a plurality of goal holes and a plurality of traps,where each goal hole and trap comprises an opening, where the air gameboard comprises two goal posts and a horizontal cross bar, where the airgame board is attached to the ground game board, and where the groundgame board is located in a horizontal orientation, where the air gameboard is located in a vertical orientation, where the ball may bedirected through the one or more goal holes or traps, where the returnboard comprises two flat surfaces, where the two flat surfaces of thereturn board are joined at a pivot point, where the angle of each of thetwo flat surfaces of the return board is adjustable such that each flatsurface of the return board is parallel to the other or angled, wherebyan angled flat surface of the return board causes a ball placed thereonto move towards one side of the table game, shooting the ball into oneof the plurality of goal holes, and a second player shooting the secondball at the same time that the first ball is shot, whereby two playersplay on the same game table simultaneously.

In yet another embodiment of the game, it is contemplated that differentplayers could be assigned “offensive” or “defensive” tasks, or even“set-up” tasks, such as in volleyball, where a “setter” is given thetask of preparing the ball for a “striker” to slam down onto the otherside of the net. By allowing for people to specialize in certain tasks,it is contemplated that if professional tournaments are held using thisinvention, that specialized players could develop to handle only certainaspects of the game.

Another embodiment of the game allows for the use of mats of varyingtackiness to be placed on various parts of the board to retard the speedof the ball or other object being used to score goals. It is furthercontemplated that these mats could be used to handicap a game, with matsof greater tackiness given to the less experienced player to allowhim/her more time to react in a defensive mode to an opponent's shot.

It is further contemplated that the game could be used for entertainmentpurposes by the physically challenged, with mechanical devices used toposition and strike the ball, and with other mechanical devices used todefend one's goals. Joysticks or video game controllers could be used tocontrol the mechanical devices, or in the case of a severely challengedindividual, voice-activated controls could be used.

It is also contemplated the game can be played with a player's hands, orwith a paddle, and that the size and shape of the paddle, or evenallowing a player access to a paddle, may be used to handicap the game.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofmay be better understood, and in order that the present contribution tothe art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of theinvention that will be described hereinafter and which will form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto. The features listed hereinand other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention willbecome better understood with reference to the following description andappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part ofthis specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and togetherwith the description, serve to explain the principles of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table game according to selectedembodiments of the current disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a close-up perspective view of a connection between thevertical cross member and the air game board of a table game accordingto selected embodiments of the current disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a table game according toselected embodiments of the current disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a table game according to selected embodimentsof the current disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cutaway side view of a table game according to selectedembodiments of the current disclosure.

FIG. 6A is a close up side view of a portion with an insert placedtherein of a table game according to selected embodiments of the currentdisclosure.

FIG. 6B is a close up side view of a portion with a sliding insertplaced therein of a table game according to selected embodiments of thecurrent disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a cutaway side view of a table game in an alternativeconfiguration according to selected embodiments of the currentdisclosure

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with thereferences made to the drawings below. The components in the drawingsare not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed uponclearly illustrating the components of the present invention. Moreover,like reference numerals designate corresponding parts through theseveral views in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table game according to selectedembodiments of the current disclosure. The general game 10 comprisesfour adjustable legs 12 that support a ground game board 14 and an airgame board 21. Underneath the ground game board is an adjustable returnpanel with pivot point (not shown in this figure), which serves toreturn balls or other objects to one side or the other. The adjustablepivot point allows players to change the direction of the return so thatthey can play with themselves without requiring a second player toparticipate. There is also an optional paddle 19, that can be used tostrike the ball.

The ground game board has two staging areas 35, one on each side. Thestaging area is where players on offense plan their attack, and whereplayers on defense try to defend. There is also a starting region 36,where in some versions of the game, a player begins moving the ball fromthis region. The general idea of scoring is to take a ball, where theterm “ball” refers to a ball, puck, or other movable device, and shootit from your staging area, across the shooting channels 18, avoiding thetraps/inserts 15, avoiding any defensive measures the other side putsforth, such that your ball ends up in one of the other side's goal holes17. The traps/inserts 15 comprise a hole of varying shape in the groundgame board 14, into which an insert of varying size can be placed tomake it more or less likely that a ball will fall into the trap and beremoved from play. This is a means by which the game can be handicappedto allow players of different skill levels to compete. For example, in asituation where a novice player competes with an expert, the novicecould have no inserts whatsoever, such that it would be more difficultfor the skilled player to get his/her ball past the traps, while verylarge inserts could be placed in the skilled player's holes such that itwas very unlikely that the novice's shots would end up in the hole. Oneor more return traps 16 can trap a ball that has passed by a goal hole,and the return trap could also have inserts if desired. It is alsopossible to handicap the game by awarding more points to a player whostands further from the table, or by making the more experienced playerstand a certain distance back from the table.

The goal holes 17 and traps/inserts 15 can have inserts, which aresections that can be inserted into the goal holes 17 and traps/inserts15 that decrease the size of the goal hole 17 and traps/inserts 15,thereby making it more difficult (in the case of inserts in the goalholes) or easier (in the case of inserts in the traps) to score. It isenvisioned that one way to allow players of different skill levelsagainst each other in a competitive manner would be to handicap theweaker player by decreasing the size of his goal holes and decreasingthe size of the traps through adding inserts. Sidewalls 20 help restrainthe balls within the game, such that played balls are more likely tostay on or above the ground game board 14.

The traps/inserts 15 are sections of the ground game board 14 that havebeen cut out. The inserts are the sections that are removable from theground game board 14; the traps are the cavities that are left once thetrap panels are removed (or decreased in size because of the insert).The removal of the trap panels creates the traps (or larger traps),which define the shooting channels 18. The shooting channels 18 are whatare left of the ground game board 14; the areas of the middle of theground game board that are not open. It is envisioned that the sectionscut out from the traps (inserts) can be re-inserted as a way ofmodifying the game. It is also envisioned that adding inserts to oneside of the ground game board 14 and removing inserts from the otherside of the ground game board 14 is a way to handicap an experiencedplayer by giving him smaller shooting channels 18 and aiding a weakerplayer by giving him larger shooting channels 18.

The air game comprises an air game board 21 that includes vertical goalposts 23 of wood, Plexiglas, plastic, or another clear or opaquematerial, raised approximately two inches over the surface of the groundgame board 14. The air game board 21 is approximately eighteen inches inheight in a preferred embodiment, with the goal posts made fromPlexiglas or another clear material. However, it must be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that other heights may be implemented, such asan air game board that extends twenty-four inches above the ground gameboard. Vertical cross-bars 25 and horizontal cross-bars 24 may beaffixed to the air game board 21 by wing nuts 26. These cross-barscreate obstructions that limit the ability of a player to hit a ballinto his opponent's goal holes 17. Goalposts 23 set the right and leftlimits of the area through which you can shoot your ball onto the otherside's territory. The ball has to be hit to either under (such as on theground game board 14, or “ground game”), through, or over the air gameboard 21 and between the goalposts 23 to score a goal into one of theother side's goal holes 17 (“air game”).

The game allows for a player on offense to try to score into the otherside's goal holes through either the ground game or air game. For aslow-paced, strategic version of the game, there is only one ball inplay at any particular time, and the defensive player is limited interms of how he can defend his goal holes. For example, one version ofthe game allows a defensive player to defend his goal holes only throughstriking a defensive ball laterally across the table to strike theoffensive ball before it reaches a goal hole. Players can either taketurns on offense, such as when each player gets to shoot balls 11 duringhis offensive turn, or one player can remain playing offense until heeither scores or the defensive player stops the ball on the defensiveplayer's side of the table, similar to cricket or baseball. Players canalso be limited to a certain amount of time by a clock, such that, forexample, each offensive “turn” lasts two minutes before the offensiveand defensive players reverse roles. Alternatively, an offensive playercan be given a certain number of “strokes” to get his ball positionedand shot into the defender's goal, sort of like a version of golf. Theballs 11 and path lines emanating therefrom in FIG. 1 show a sequencewhere the offensive player is allowed three shots to score a goal. It isalso contemplated that the game can be handicapped by forcing a moreexperienced player to begin his/her turn a certain distance back fromthe table, or to play with larger or smaller goal holes, traps, andwider or narrower shooting channels.

For a fast-paced, reactionary game, more than one ball is put in play atany one time, putting a player's reactions at a premium. Rules can allowfor one player to “hog” the balls so that he can shoot several at onetime or in a rapid sequence, thereby making it more difficult for thedefensive player to block the shots.

The game can be played effectively by anywhere from one to eight peopleat a single time. In theory, more than eight players could play the gamesimultaneously, but eight players is the maximum number in a particularembodiment of the invention.

For a solo player, he begins by turning the pivot point of the returnpanel “up” on the other side of the ground game table (discussed in moredetail below), such that any balls he loses into either the traps or thegoal holes on the other side of the table are returned to him. In thismanner, he can practice his offensive skills in both the ground game andair game.

For two players, in one embodiment of the game, where the players taketurns on offense and defense, the offensive player takes an offensiveposition and tries to get one or more game balls 11 into the goal holes16 of the defensive player. The defensive player takes a defensiveposition and tries to deflect the offensive player's game balls beforethey reach the goal holes. In this embodiment, after either a set numberof balls (strategic version) or a set amount of time with unlimitedballs (reactionary version), the offensive player goes on defense andthe defensive player goes on offense. A paddle 19 may be used by thedefensive player to block the shots of the offensive player. As shown inthis figure, paddle 19 includes a handle portion that may be grasped bya player. Alternatively, the game can be played without paddles, oraccess to a paddle can be used to handicap the game by allowing only theless skilled player to use a paddle.

For four players, one embodiment of the game calls for one or more ballsto be in play at any one time, and on each team, one player playsoffense in the offensive position and his/her teammate plays defense inthe defensive position.

For eight players, offensively the players line up very similarly todoubles in tennis or Ping-Pong, with one offensive player on either sideof the offensive zone. Each team also has two defensive players, one ofwhom sets up on either side of the table in the doubles defensivepositions.

FIG. 2 is a close-up perspective view of a connection between thevertical cross member and the air game board of a table game accordingto selected embodiments of the current disclosure. A vertical cross-bar25 is secured to the air game board 21 by means of a wing nut 26. Aswill be appreciated by those skilled in the art, other means of securingcross-bars to the air game board are possible, including regular nutsand bolts, hook and loop fasteners, and magnets.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a table game according toselected embodiments of the current disclosure. Two different air gameboards 21 are shown, though it is contemplated that only one air gameboard be used with the game at any one time. One air game board 21 issimilar to that shown in FIG. 1, while the other air game board 21 is asimplified version, wherein it has two goal posts 23 and a singlevertical cross-bar 25 permanently affixed thereto. FIG. 3 also showstraps 17 of different shapes and sizes as well as inserts 15 that securethereto. The inserts 15 may have openings located therein that are thesame or different shape as that of the outside of the insert.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a table game according to selected embodimentsof the current disclosure. Inserts 15 of different shapes and sizes areshown separated from and inserted into traps 17. The inserts may coverthe entire trap or leave a portion exposed. For example, the insert 15may have one or more holes on the inside of the insert. Alternatively,the outside of the insert 15 may be smaller than the trap 17, wherebythe insert 15 may slide from side to side within the trap 17. In yetanother alternative, the insert 15 may be smaller than the trap 17 aswell as have a hole incorporated therein. In any event, shootingchannels 18 should remain available for players to shoot a ball over inan attempt to get the ball into a goal hole 16. As mentioned previously,the width of the shooting channels can be adjusted by placing insertsinto the traps on either side of the shooting channels. The ground gameboard 14 has two staging areas 35, one on each side. The staging area iswhere players on offense plan their attack, and where players on defensetry to defend. There is also a starting region 36, where in someversions of the game, a player begins moving the ball from this region.

FIG. 5 is a cutaway side view of a table game according to selectedembodiments of the current disclosure. This figure shows how theadjustable return panels 13 can be adjusted to send the balls 11 toeither side of the table. Beneath the ground game board 14 are twoadjustable return panels 13, each of which can be independently raisedor lowered to change the direction of ball return. Thus, when a playerwants to practice alone, he can tilt the panel on the other side of theboard upward, and tilt the panel on his side of the game downward, suchthat all balls that are hit onto the other side of the game that go intoeither a goal hole or a trap are returned to the player's side. For agame with two or more players, in a preferred embodiment of the gameboth panels are tilted downward such that if a ball falls into a goalhole or trap, the ball is returned to the player upon whom the goal wasscored or whose trap trapped the ball.

FIG. 6A is a close up side view of a portion with an insert placedtherein of a table game according to selected embodiments of the currentdisclosure. The insert 15 is supported by lips of the ground game board14. The use of inserts of different sizes and shapes can be used toalter the complexity and pace of the game, and to handicap games betweenplayers of different skill levels.

FIG. 6B is a close up side view of a portion with a sliding insertplaced therein of a table game according to selected embodiments of thecurrent disclosure. The insert 15 is supported by the ground game board14. The insert 15 has edges that extend over both sides of a lip of theground game board 14, where the insert 15 can slide along the edges butcannot be removed from the ground game board 14.

FIG. 7 is a cutaway side view of a table game in an alternativeconfiguration according to selected embodiments of the currentdisclosure. To increase the difficulty of the game, each side of theground game board 14 may be adjustable. By lowering the edges of a sideof the ground game board 14, or alternatively raising the center of theground game board 14, the ground game board 14 becomes angled. Such aconfiguration requires a player to provide an additional force to a ballto cause it to travel upwards along the inclined ground game board.Alternatively, should that section be inclined in the oppositedirection, less force (or even no force) is required to move the balltowards the opponents goal holes. In a particular embodiment, the gameis played in a configuration where the ground game board 14 is in a rooftop configuration, where each half of the ground game board is inclinedtowards a player.

In a particular embodiment, the ball is a hard non-elastic ball, a pucksimilar to a hockey puck, an elastic “bouncy” ball, a beanbag, or a fooditem, such as an orange, plum, or grapefruit.

Various means of scoring are contemplated whereby players are encouragedto shot a ball through a goal hole and discouraged to have a ball fallthrough a trap. Inserts, as described above, can also change the scoringof the game. Larger openings in the goal holes may result in fewerpoints, while larger openings in traps may result in a greater number ofpoints. Thus, individual players may be handicapped by the placement anduse of particular inserts and/or scoring mechanisms.

A particular method of practicing the game of the current invention hasan offensive player shooting balls into the goal holes of a defensiveplayer while avoiding traps. At the same time, the defensive player usesbeanbags in an attempt to block or redirect the shots of the offensiveplayer. The beanbags can be thrown or slid onto various positions on theground game board in an attempt to block or redirect a shot ball awayfrom a goal hole.

Another method of practicing the game of the current invention is around robin format, wherein one player plays offensive while theremaining players play defense. The offensive player remains on offensefor a set period of time or until other conditions are met, such asthree failed attempts at shooting a ball into a goal hole. At that time,the offensive player rotates into a defensive position, and one of thedefensive players rotates into the offensive position. The winner of thegame is then determined by which player has obtained the greatest numberof points.

In yet another method of practicing the game of the current invention,four players, two on each team, compete against each other, but indifferent realms. One player from each team competes on the ground game,whereby the balls travel on the ground game board, while the other twoplayers compete on the air game, whereby the balls travel through orover the air game board and then bounce onto or through the ground gameboard. The ground game and air game can be played at separate times orconcurrently.

A further method of practicing the game of the current invention has oneor more players attempting to get a ball (preferably a beanbag of sorts)into a particular goal hole. Each player takes a turn and records howmany attempts it takes to get the ball into the goal hole. The playerwith the lowest number of attempts wins the game. An alternativeembodiment of this idea is similar to the game of “horse” on basketballplaygrounds, where players are eliminated from the game should they takethe most shots to score. It should be noted that either the “golf” or“horse” version of the game can be practiced by a single person, therebyadding to the desirability of the game.

An additional method of practicing the game of the current invention hasplayers rotate turns until one of the players makes a shot into a goalhole. Then, all subsequent players must make the same shot or iseliminated. These rounds are repeated until a final player is left thathas not been eliminated.

In yet another method of practicing the game of the current invention,the players are divided into two teams. Each team plays defense oroffense, and switches after a particular condition is met, such as threefailed attempts to shoot a ball into a goal hole. While on offense, eachplayer has one chance to shoot a ball into a goal hole. The defenseplayers, at the same time, position inserts or place beanbags in anattempt to block or make it more difficult for the offensive player tosuccessfully shot a ball into a goal hole. The offensive players rotatethrough each player after each attempt and upon three failed attempts,the offensive players become defensive players and the defensive playersbecome offensive players.

Another embodiment of the game calls for a “baseball” approach where anoffensive player tries to score a goal and a defensive player tries toblock the shot. If the defensive player stops a certain number ofattempts by the offensive player (such as three attempts, as inbaseball), the offensive player is “out” and the two players switchoffense and defense. This embodiment could be handicapped by forcing themore experienced player to shoot from a further distance away from thetable, giving one side larger traps, goal holes, or shooting channels,or selectively applying a mat of material to one side that would slowdown the ball, making it easier to defend.

It is also contemplated that while one embodiment of the game calls fora table approximately the size of a Ping-Pong or pool table, it isconceivable that smaller (or even larger) game tables could be produced.

It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of theinvention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure ismade by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto arepossible without departing from the subject matter coming within thescope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof,which claims I regard as my invention.

All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyrightprotection under the copyright laws of the United States and othercountries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure,as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all othercopyright rights whatsoever are reserved.

That which is claimed:
 1. A table game comprising a ground game board,an air game board, four adjustable legs, an adjustable return panel, anda ball, where the ground game board comprises a plurality of goal holesand a plurality of traps, where each goal hole and trap comprises anopening, where at least one of the plurality of goal holes furthercomprises an insert, where the insert of the goal hole comprises a holethat is smaller than the size of the goal hole, whereby the insert ofthe goal hole may be inserted into the goal hole to decrease the size ofthe opening of the goal hole thereby making it more difficult to passthe ball through the goal hole, where at least one of the plurality oftraps further comprises an insert, where the insert of the trapcomprises a hole that is smaller than the size of the trap, whereby theinsert of the trap may be inserted into the trap to decrease the size ofthe opening of the trap thereby making it more difficult to pass theball through the trap, where the air game board comprises two goalposts, a horizontal cross-bar, and a vertical cross-bar, where the airgame board is attached to the ground game board, and where the groundgame board is located in a horizontal orientation, where the air gameboard is located in a vertical orientation, where the ball may bedirected through the one or more goal holes or traps, where the returnboard comprises two flat surfaces, where the two flat surfaces of thereturn board are joined at a pivot point, where the angle of each of thetwo flat surfaces of the return board is adjustable such that each flatsurface of the return board is parallel to the other or angled, wherebyan angled flat surface of the return board causes a ball placed thereonto move towards one side of the table game.
 2. A table game comprising aground game board, a paddle, an air game board, four legs, an adjustablereturn panel, and a ball, where the ground game board comprises aplurality of goal holes and a plurality of traps, where each goal holeand trap comprises an opening, where the air game board comprises twogoal posts and a horizontal cross bar, where the air game board isattached to the ground game board, and where the ground game board islocated in a horizontal orientation, where the air game board is locatedin a vertical orientation, where the ball may be directed through theone or more goal holes or traps, where the return board comprises twoflat surfaces, where the two flat surfaces of the return board arejoined at a pivot point, where the angle of each of the two flatsurfaces of the return board is adjustable such that each flat surfaceof the return board is parallel to the other or angled, whereby anangled flat surface of the return board causes a ball placed thereon tomove towards one side of the table game, and where the paddle comprisesa handle portion and may be used to strike the ball.
 3. The table gameof claim 2, further comprising a paddle, wherein the paddle may be usedto strike the ball.
 4. The table game of claim 2, wherein the four legsare adjustable in height.
 5. The table game of claim 2, wherein at leastone of the plurality of goal holes further comprises an insert, wherethe insert comprises a hole that is smaller than the size of the goalhole, whereby the insert may be inserted into the goal hole to decreasethe size of the opening of the goal hole thereby making it moredifficult to pass the ball through the goal hole.
 6. The table game ofclaim 2, wherein the ball is selected from the group consisting ofbouncing balls, non-elastic balls, pucks, and beanbags.
 7. The tablegame of claim 2, wherein the paddle comprises a handle portion.
 8. Thetable game of claim 2, wherein both flat surfaces of the return boardare at the same angle, whereby a ball placed on either flat surfacesmoves towards the same side of the table game.
 9. The table game ofclaim 2, further comprising a second ball, wherein the ball and thesecond ball may each move simultaneously on or over the ground gameboard.
 10. The table game of claim 2, wherein the air game board furthercomprises a vertical cross-bar.
 11. The table game of claim 2, whereinthe air game board further comprises a plurality of vertical cross-bars.12. The table game of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality oftraps further comprises an insert, where the insert comprises a holethat is smaller than the size of the trap, whereby the insert may beinserted into the trap to decrease the size of the opening of the trapthereby making it more difficult to pass the ball through the trap. 13.A method of playing a table game comprising the steps of obtaining agame table, where the game table comprises a ground game board, an airgame board, four legs, an adjustable return panel, and a ball, where theground game board comprises a plurality of goal holes and a plurality oftraps, where each goal hole and trap comprises an opening, where the airgame board comprises two goal posts and a horizontal cross bar, wherethe air game board is attached to the ground game board, and where theground game board is located in a horizontal orientation, where the airgame board is located in a vertical orientation, where the ball may bedirected through the one or more goal holes or traps, where the returnboard comprises two flat surfaces, where the two flat surfaces of thereturn board are joined at a pivot point, where the angle of each of thetwo flat surfaces of the return board is adjustable such that each flatsurface of the return board is parallel to the other or angled, wherebyan angled flat surface of the return board causes a ball placed thereonto move towards one side of the table game, and shooting the ball intoone of the plurality of goal holes.
 14. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising the step of adjusting the adjustable return panel such thatwhen the ball falls into any of the goal holes or traps, it is returnedto one side of the table game, whereby a single player may play thetable game.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the table game is playedby two players who takes turns playing an offensive role and a defensiverole, and where when a player is playing an offensive role, the playeris known as an offensive player, and where when a player is playing adefensive role, the player is known as a defensive player, and where theoffensive player plays from an end portion of the game table and thedefensive player plays from a side portion of the game table.
 16. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the game table comprises a second ball. 17.The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of a second playershooting the second ball at the same time that the first ball is shot,whereby two players play on the same game table simultaneously.
 18. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the table game is played by four players,and the four players are divided up into two teams, where each team hasone player playing an offensive role and one player playing a defensiverole, where an offensive role attempts to shoot the ball into a goalhole, where a defense role attempts to prevent the team playing theoffensive role from shooting the ball into a goal hole.
 19. The methodof claim 18, further comprising the steps of switching the roles of thetwo teams, whereby the team that was in the offensive role assumes thedefensive role, where the team that was in the defensive role assumesthe offensive role.
 20. The method of claim 13, wherein the table gameis played by eight players, where the eight players are divided up intotwo teams of four players, where each team of four players includes twooffensive players and two defensive players.